Photo by: Jacob Lips
Just looking at the Black Canyon in Colorado, is enough for people to understand how it got its name. The canyon is so extremely steep, it prevents the sunlight from penetrating through the lower regions. It is said to be the fifth steepest mountain crescent in North America.
While the park generally has a dark hew, there are bursts of colors throughout the park, brought about by the lively plant life. More than 300,000 people visited this 30,750-acre park in 2018.
History
The Gunnison River’s course was set over 15 million years ago, as runoff from the neighboring La Sal and West Elk Mountains. The river was also responsible for the formation of the canyon. The river, assisted by various geological activities in the past millions of years, contributed to the steepness of the canyon.
The Ute Indians were the first settlers in the region. Before the U.S. declared independence in 1776, two Spanish expeditions were carried out at the Black Canyon, putting the area under the government's radar. But it was American Captain John Williams Gunnison, who gave an extensive account of the park when he led an expedition there, in 1853.
It was a long process to gain protection though. It wasn’t until 1933 that the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park became a national monument. It was redesigned as a park on Oct. 21, 1999.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Things to do:
Compared to the national parks in America, the Black Canyon is quite small. Still, the park hosts many activities for visitors. Here are some of the things that visitors can do at the park:
Hiking
The park has two entrances, the South Rim and the North Rim. Both have hiking trails that range from moderate to strenuous in terms of physical exertion.
South Rim
Rim Rock Nature Trail
Oak Flat Look Trail
Cedar Point Nature Trail
Warner Point Nature Trail
North Rim
Chasm View Nature Trail
North Vista Trail
Deadhorse Trail
Scenic drives
For those who don’t enjoy strenuous activities, can just drive along the South Rim Road and North Rim Road. There is also the East Portal Road. These routes allow the tourists to explore the Canyon better, and enjoy the stunning views through the stretch of road.
Stargazing
Because the area is so dark, the night is perfect for stargazing. Visitors could see at least 15,000 stars in certain areas of the park. Minimal artificial light is being used in the park to preserve the natural element of stargazing. This is why the park was designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2015.
Camping
There are more than 100 campsites at three major campgrounds of the park: South Rim, North Rim, and East Portal.
Rock climbing
For those who find leisurely walks boring, the deep and narrow Black Canyon will certainly give expert climbers the challenge they crave.
Kayaking
While not a very popular adventure among visitors, some still proceed to kayak at the Gunnison River. The only reason this activity is not very popular is that it is very challenging. Only experienced kayakers would dare to paddle.
Fishing
The Gunnison River has been designated as a Gold Medal Water and Wild Trout Water, which is an award bestowed on waters that produce a certain number of trout per acre.
Flora and fauna
For visitors who don’t enjoy physical activities, they can just visit Black Canyon for wildlife. Sightseeing is just as exciting as the above-mentioned things to do.
Bears are in abundance. One of the basic caveats for backpackers is to keep their food nearby. Bears enjoy taking hikers’ snacks. Of course, it also becomes an exciting attraction for tourists.
Here are some of the animals one may be able to spot while walking around the park: badgers, bobcats, coyotes, elks, garter snakes, great basin gopher snakes, golden-mantled ground squirrels, lizards, long-tail weasels, mountain lions, mule deer, ringtail cats, rock squirrels, rocky mountain bighorn sheep, salamanders, skunks, smooth green snakes, striped whipsnake and yellow-bellied marmots.
The Black Canyon is also a fairly great area for bird watching. Here are some of the feathered creatures that visitors can get a glimpse of in the park: blue grouses, canyon wrens, cooper’s hawks, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures.
The dark park enjoys some splashes of colors from its plant life. Among the more common plants in the area are the aspen, Gambel oak, mahogany, Ponderosa pine, sagebrush, single-leaf ash, and Utah juniper. There is also the Black Canyon gilia, which is endemic to the park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips